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ARUBA
        7 Emerging Trends
                          in




                Edward M. Erasmus, MA
        Social Media Seminar, University of Aruba
                       July 3, 2012
State of Social Media
• Since the launching of Facebook (2004) and
  Twitter (2006).
• Unprecedented growth in usage of social
  platforms.
• Not just for sharing stuff with friends…
• Opportunities for businesses to engage in
  creative new forms of online communication
  with (potential) clients.
Countless array of platforms…
• Since the launching Facebook (2005) and
  Twitter (
Not a hype…..



 It’s a fundamental
 shift in the way we
 communicate.
Social Media is disrupting how we…
•   Interact
•   Gather information
•   Make decisions
•   Collaborate, develop and create
•   Do business
“We always overestimate the change
that will occur in the next two years
and underestimate the change that will
occur in the next ten. Don’t let yourself
be lulled into inaction.”
                     ~Bill Gates
So here they are……


7   emerging trends in social media
Trend 1 - Social Mobile
Social Mobile



+              +
Social Mobile…
• 350 million users of Facebook’s 800 million
  users are accessing via smartphone
• Majority of Twitter traffic from mobile 55%
• 400 Million YouTube views on Mobile devices
  per day!

Gartner predicts that by the end of 2012, the
number one way that consumers will be
interacting with the Internet is via their
smartphones and tablets
Implications…

• Huge growth potential
• Create content for mobile
• Design websites, blogs for mobile
  viewing
• Make it easy for viewers to act on
  that content in a social manner
Trend 2 - Socialization of Search
Socialization of Search
Socialization of Search
• Google’s search results are determined by
  complex algorithms.

• Google started rolling out its “+1″ button to
  indicate ”social signals” that will be used to
  determine what content is being voted on as
  valuable by humans rather than just machines.

• Google and Bing have increased the visibility and
  priority of social networks in search results.
Socialization of Search
Implications




•   Create accounts on relevant social media
•   Create content for social networks
•   Publish and promote on social media
•   Treat Facebook as an extension of website
•   Optimize for search
•   Place your media “Everywhere”
Trend 3 - Location Based Marketing
Location Based (Social) Marketing
Location Based Apps

•   Facebook Places – 30 Million+ users
•   Foursquare – 16 Million users
•   Loopt – 5 million users
•   MyTown – 5 million users
The KLM experiment…
Implications

• Drive traffic to Shopping Centers and stores
• Surprise and reward customers
Trend 4 – Integration of Social and
        Traditional Media
The Tweet TV Generation…
Discuss shows with others, make new friendships
     and fill in the time during commercials
Twitter hash tags
Twitter hash tags
Twitter hash tags
The next level of
social interactivity…
Social interactivity




              Super Bowl XLVI

Viewers were able to tag Super Bowl 2012 commercials
  to win amazing prizes like cars, gift cards and more.
Viewers were able tag Super Bowl 2012 commercials
to win amazing prizes like cars, gift cards and more.
Social interactivity
Social interactivity
Implications
•   Manage conversations
•   Create trends (generate curiosity)
•   New forms of engagement
•   Instant audio-tagging facilitates immediate
    action by the consumer
Trend 5 - Super Blogs
Super Blogs…
Implications
• Start with “Focus” and “Passion”
• Advertising revenue needs large scale
• Freemium then Premium content – sell
  your own content
• Platform for Influence
• Create Opportunities - Partnerships
Trend 6 - Global Micro Niche Business
Trend 6 - Global Micro Niche Business
Trend 6 - Global Micro Niche Business
Going global…
• Social Media provides Global Distribution
  Platforms to Niche Markets
Global Micro Niche Business
Global Micro Niche Business
Implications
• Social media provides global content
  distribution platforms to niche markets

• Democratization of marketing
• The availability of personal, global
  publishing platforms
• Ease of use
• “Free” and real time marketing
Trend 7 - Social Commerce
Social Commerce
Social Commerce
•   Top Facebook pages have stores
•   Monetizing the networks
•   Taking the shop to the network
•   Existing e-commerce platforms building
    plugins for Facebook
Implications
• Major reason for following a brand on
  Facebook is to obtain a discount or deal.
• Include sharing buttons in your online store.
• Drive traffic to your online store with your
  social networks.
• Highlight specials/deals/vouchers on Twitter
  and Facebook.
• Make it easy for people to buy “anywhere”.
Recap


1.   Social mobile
2.   Socialization of search
3.   Location based marketing
4.   Integrating social and traditional media
5.   The rise of super blogs
6.   Global micro niche business
7.   Social commerce
Aruba…?
Are we ready for the digital revolution?
Critical issues
• e-Commerce regulations
• Intellectual property laws
• Internet payment systems
e-Commerce regulations
• E-steering Committee 2001
• Update report: reposition Aruba as a global
  business opportunity for internet-related
  business, ensure international standards and
  improve online growth possibilities for local
  businesses.
Intellectual property laws
• Update intellectual property laws
• Anti-piracy regulations
Internet payment systems
Internet payment systems
Edward M. Erasmus, MA
e.erasmus@fzanv.com
erasmus.bpas@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/edwardmerasmus
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/em_erasmus
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardmerasmus
Blog:     http://edwardmerasmus.wordpress.com
Q&A
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